alumni
February 24, 2024
Raves for novelist
E.J. Koh’s debut novel affirms her place among powerful American storytellers.
November 29, 2023
Chairmen of the boards
Twin brothers forge a thriving business creating bindings for snowboards and splitboards.
November 26, 2023
Wit and whiteout
Haidee Merritt charms readers with her droll and deprecating illustrations about Type 1 diabetes.
Helping PROVAIL prevail
Mike Hatzenbeler’s goal is to help people with disabilities fulfill their life choices.
November 24, 2023
Two good
MacArthur Foundation Fellowships that were awarded to two University of Washington graduates recognize their work in disparate fields.
Forest chorus
Byron Au Yong, ’96, went to the Bloedel Reserve on Bainbridge Island to sing with the trees at an outdoor, participatory research event.
September 2, 2023
Quiet philanthropists
Dan and Pam Baty, recipients of the 2023 Gates Volunteer Service Award, have spent nearly five decades supporting UW programs.
UW alum succeeds Fauci
Jeanne Marrazzo has become the director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases.
June 4, 2023
A protector of children
Carol Lace Jenkins dedicated her career to helping parents and guardians.
Fraud finder
Josh Crabtree runs a Seattle-based office of special agents and investigative specialists conducting passport and visa fraud investigations.
Down to earth
Blending her own story with tales of climate crisis negotiations, Brianna Craft shows us the world in her memoir.
A KKK ‘monster’ story
Timothy Egan’s latest book, “A Fever in the Heartland," centers on the rise and undoing of D.C. Stephenson, a grand dragon of the KKK
May 29, 2023
Smooth sip of success
Pals Manny Chao and Roger Bialous have made Georgetown Brewing a Seattle favorite.
February 25, 2023
Call of the wild
Samantha Zwicker works to rehabilitate and reintroduce wildlife in the Amazon rainforest.
Drawn to love stories
New Yorker cartoonist Olivia de Recat captures relationships in her book ‘Drawn Together.’
An unlikely knight
When Spain decided to allow Sephardic Jews to reclaim their citizenship, Doreen Alhadeff, ’72, jumped at the chance. She recently earned a knighthood for helping others do the same.
November 27, 2022
Star power
On the 20th anniversary of the Space Shuttle Columbia tragedy, we remember astronaut Michael Anderson, ’81.
November 26, 2022
The hows of housing
Two UW alumni lead separate projects to address some of the biggest social issues of our time.
Learners and leaders
With a foundation rooted in leadership, service and education, the Women’s University Club has served the community since 1914. This year, its headquarters turns 100.
Newsroom star
Former Daily reporter turned Pulitzer Prize-winning editor Suki Dardarian was honored for her newspaper’s George Floyd coverage.
Treasure in feces
Bryn Nelson followed his love for animals and science to become both a microbiologist and the writer of a book on human feces.
September 4, 2022
Nursing advocate
Joanne Montgomery, recipient of the 2022 Gates Volunteer Service Award, spent two decades as a nurse—and two more ensuring that the UW is at the forefront of the field.
September 3, 2022
Glowing observations
Willem Volkersz, ’65, will have an exhibit of his work, “The View From Here,” on display at the Boise Art Museum from Oct. 8 to Jan. 8.
September 2, 2022
Pulitzer for podcaster
Audrey Quinn detoured from a life in science to become an award-winning storyteller.
Hollywood Husky
Collaborating with Will Smith and Dave Chappelle is all in a day’s work for one of TV’s leading women directors.
May 30, 2022
High-water mark
Linda Fagan will continue to put her UW master’s degree in marine affairs to good use in her new role leading the U.S. Coast Guard.
Dreaming of America
Wes Hurley has built a community of allies from his time at the UW, and it’s paying off.
‘Star Wars’ to the stars
NASA is going back to the moon and planning to land humans on Mars, thanks in part to Orion manager Howard Hu, ’91, ’94
May 29, 2022
Stolen beauty
The story of the shocking theft, destruction and replacement of George Tsutakawa’s sculptural gates at the Washington Park Arboretum.
Earth and space
Gary Lai, the lead architect of Blue Origin’s New Shepard program, heads to the heavens.
For the next generation
After 26 years leading Densho, a nonprofit organization committed to preserving and sharing Japanese American history, executive director Tom Ikeda, ’76, ’79, ’83, is retiring
March 5, 2022
The voice of Yakima Valley
While working on her doctorate, Monica De La Torre, ’16, studied the Yakima Valley's Radio Cadena. She shares their stories in “Feminista Frequencies."
March 4, 2022
Autism in the spotlight
Actor Mickey Rowe's book chronicles his journey from a legally blind self-described outcast to the hero of his own story.
Caring for custodians
Evalynn Fae Taganna Romano, ’10, ’21, leads an effort recognize an often overlooked group in the pandemic: campus custodians.
A real character
Versatility has been Jean Smart’s strength since her UW days. Now, the Emmy-winning actor’s star is shining brighter than ever.
December 4, 2021
UW in the cards
‘Down the Ave,’ a card game developed by business students, is full of UW and Seattle references.
Portraits of justice
Alfredo Arreguin has painted the official portraits for three justices on the Washington State Supreme Court. At 86, the master of Mexican-American art remains a source of colorful ideas and vivid canvases.
November 19, 2021
Nursing leader’s legacy
One of Seattle’s few Black nurses in the 1940s, Rachel Suggs Pitts helped create a network of support for her colleagues and nursing students.
Changing the law
Enoka Herat works with law enforcement leaders and the families of people who have died from police violence to change practices in Washington.
Rising above hate
A Japanese American UW grad turned businessman, Harry Kawabe was a humanitarian who built economies in two U.S. cities and dedicated his life to building community.
October 30, 2021
A life in service
Dave Stone, ’68, is recognized for his lifetime of service—military, public and volunteer—with the Distinguished Alumni Veteran Award.
September 8, 2021
Visual music
Through the interplay of light with her creations, artist Barbara Earl Thomas creates ‘ordinary magic.’ Her extraordinary work explores childhood, race and religion.
September 4, 2021
Meals & memories
Two decades after Tom Stockley and his wife, Peggy, perished in a plane crash, their daughters curate a new book of his eating pleasures.
Anderson honored
James G. Anderson, '66, will receive the 2021 Dreyfus Prize in the Chemical Sciences.
Jewell on faculty
Former Interior Secretary Sally Jewell, ’78, was appointed to the Edward V. Fritzky Endowed Chair in Leadership for the 2021-2022 school year.
A life in design
Nin Truong brings creativity and sustainability to the world of public art, skateboarding and apparel.
August 31, 2021
A name that stuck
Cassandra Amesley, ’77, ’81, made ‘Red Square’ catch on and etched her name in Husky history.
Higher purpose
After his NFL career, Mark Pattison kept pursuing athletic feats. He recently climbed Mount Everest to complete the Seven Summits challenge, raising more than $56,000 for charity.
9.11.01: I was there
Two alumni who escaped the horror of Ground Zero bravely share their stories of trauma and hope.
August 12, 2021
Seizing the moment
Whether we’re together in person or using technology to bridge the distance, the UW Alumni Association is about making connections.
June 10, 2021
A dog-gone great idea
Bill Perkins' nonprofit organization employs people in prisons to train service dogs for veterans.
A Coast Guard first
Linda Fagan, '00, was nominated to become the highest-ranking woman in Coast Guard history.
Less can be more
Compared to changes that add, those that subtract are harder to think of. The removal of a bridge in the Bay Area illustrates how sometimes, less is more.
June 7, 2021
Promoting preservation
Elizabeth Bell was honored for more than 42 years of “tireless effort in preserving the city and promoting understanding of the heritage” of Antigua, Guatemala.
Calling the shots
For Golf Channel analyst Paige Mackenzie, ’06, the only thing more thrilling than scoring a hole-in-one is calling the golf play-by-play at the Olympic Games.
June 4, 2021
Can’t hold him back
From radical youth to senior statesman, Larry Gossett is an activist for us all. The 2021 Alumnus Summa Laude Dignatus award recognizes his lifetime of service.
Passion for the UW
Colleen Fukui-Sketchley’s commitment to serving the UW Alumni Association, the University of Washington and higher education has been nothing short of amazing.
June 1, 2021
The death dodger
Taking risks was second nature for Albert Scott Crossfield. That’s how he became the first man to fly at twice the speed of sound and laid the groundwork to go into space.
Speeding up the science
Curtis and Elizabeth Anderson lost their daughter to an uncommon form of cancer. Their philanthropy aims to expand research and bring hope to patients and their families.
April 17, 2021
Frontline photographer
Photographer David Ryder, ’06, ’11, was recently recognized as UW Bothell's Alumni of the Year recipient.
March 11, 2021
Rural nurses wanted
A program funded by Premera Blue Cross is placing nursing students in rural practices throughout Washington.
March 9, 2021
Culture crew
Their commitment to equity brought three UW alumni to 4Culture—and it has remained the agency’s North Star in its pandemic response.
Standing tall
He went from the UW to professional basketball and back. But it’s in the special education classroom that Anthony Washington, ’16, ’19, is making a lasting difference.
March 4, 2021
Private-eye inspiration
Instead, Thoft uses the P.I. skills she learned to write her award-winning detective novels featuring hard-nosed private eye Fina Ludlow.
March 3, 2021
Soul of Seattle
With the city changing rapidly, Ron Chew set out to write about one of its beloved communities. It’s a story only he could tell.
March 2, 2021
Never done learning
Ed Jones has since completed 11 UWPCE certificate programs, more than anyone else.
January 16, 2021
Catch up with Jake Locker
Husky football fans remember Jake Locker for his determined play during some down years for the program.
Hockey heights
Now an agent, Ryan Minkoff, ’15, became the first student-athlete from the Husky club hockey team to make it to the professional hockey ranks.
January 11, 2021
Books and conversation
To date, more than 1,600 readers have joined the UW Alumni Book Club, representing alumni from every college and school across all three campuses.
December 16, 2020
Whitcomb’s year
Not only did Sami Whitcomb help the Seattle Storm capture its fourth WNBA championship, but she and her wife Kate welcomed their first child.
Emerging from pain
Britt East’s book “A Gay Man’s Guide to Life” provides realistic ways for gay men to deal with homophobia and live a good life.
December 9, 2020
Holistic view
The first Filipino American to graduate from UW medical school, Fernando Vega helped open the path to alternative medicine in the U.S.
September 30, 2020
Campus ambassador
Our sketchbook profiles Alice Lee, manager of the UW Visitors Center.
September 11, 2020
No longer lost
Stephen Johnson, '99, scoured archives, the internet and a villa in Italy to discover the fate of a missing World War II pilot.
August 23, 2020
Under Astra’s spell
A Latvian refugee from World War II, the colorful Astra Zarina had a vision to bring UW architecture students to Rome. Today, her students are making sure she is not forgotten.
July 7, 2020
Hard-hat Barbie
Ecologist Nalini Nadkarni, ’83, joined a project between National Geographic and Mattel to create a new line of Barbie dolls centered around science and exploration.
June 10, 2020
Stranger than fiction
A writer faces frustration with the release of her first work of fiction during a pandemic.
On the trail with Craig Romano
Hiking book author Craig Romano, ’94, ’97, slowed down long enough to tell us about his passion for nature.
Seafood stories
In "Salmon Sisters," Emma Teal Laukitis, ’18, and Claire Neaton share stories from their father's fishing vessel and their clean, elegant approach to food.
June 4, 2020
Smallpox slayer's wisdom
William Foege, ’61, was instrumental in wiping smallpox off the face of the Earth. The lessons he learned in that fight offer wisdom as we face COVID-19.
May 15, 2020
Front and center
With compassion, innovation and empathy, public health leader Patty Hayes strives to make life better for all of us.
May 12, 2020
The lost spring
Just as all schools and colleges have closed down this year from late March because of COVID-19, my senior year ended early in 1980.
April 14, 2020
Out of print
Pike Place Market's last newsstand goes out of print as UW alumnus closes shop.
April 2, 2020
Impact personified
Alum and former UW regent Jim Ellis was driven to serve the public good.
March 10, 2020
A serving of support
As CEO of FareStart, Angela Dunleavy Stowell gives people a path from poverty to success in the culinary world.
December 27, 2019
Born in rhythm
We asked percussionist Paul Hansen, ’83, about his life on the drums. Here's what he had to say.
December 26, 2019
Inside the peace
No one else could have written "Surviving the Peace," a new book by Peter Lippman, ’95, after decades of grassroots connections to the people of the Balkans.
December 9, 2019
Human touch
Jill Higson ’86, gives people a chance to communicate through the written word.
December 1, 2019
A tern for the worse
Feeding the wrong food to chicks could spell disaster for several species of terns.
November 24, 2019
Granters of wishes
Melissa Arias, ’97, and Trina Cottingham, ’96, are on local Make-A-Wish leadership team.
Legacy of ‘No-No Boy’
Decades ago, he built a foundation for Asian American literature; now, a UW professor is still protecting an alumnus’s classic novel.
October 23, 2019
From war to law
An owner of three Bronze Stars, the Hon. Ronald E. Cox is UWAA’s 2019 Distinguished Alumni Veteran Award recipient.
September 2, 2019
Arms to table
Northwest ingredients meet Filipino-influenced cuisine at Archipelago, a Seattle restaurant that has earned rave reviews.
June 4, 2019
At bat for Mom
Former Husky outfielder Braden Bishop's charity event raised $50,000 for Alzheimer’s research.
Give Me 5
Melanie Jackson, a 1993 All-American soccer player at the UW, is now a senior editor and writer with ESPNW.
June 3, 2019
James LoGerfo Sr. named 2019 UW Distinguished Retiree
LoGerfo Sr., ’72, has used his time in retirement to expand his training of health-care workers around the world.
Change is afoot
The name Columns will soon be retired and the magazine's look will be completely refreshed.